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After 38 years in the states, Bowie man takes Oath of Allegiance as U.S. citizen

Barbara Green, The Bowie News
Published 7:37 a.m. CT Aug. 5, 2018

Thirty-eight years after he arrived in the United States as an eight-year-old boy Ricky Delao held up his right hand and gave the “Oath of Allegiance” to the United States of America.
He gave up his long-held green card and became a naturalized American citizen excited to enjoy all the rights and benefits that come with that designation.
Delao, 46, from Bowie celebrated this landmark day with his children, Monica, Lexis and Colby, who were visibly proud of their dad. He joined 42 other immigrants on July 23 in a naturalization ceremony in Irving.
When asked why it took him so long to seek out citizenship, Delao does not hesitate to say he should have done it a long time ago, but he decided more than a year ago it was finally time.
“I have been here a lot of years and I should have done it before because it has so many opportunities that come with it, such as voting,” said Delao.
A new country
Delao was born in Juarez, Mexico just across the border from El Paso. His father traveled into the U.S. every day on a work visa to provide for his family returning home to Mexico each night. His mother was a stay at home mom who with her husband would raise six children, all boys. Two of those boys were born in the United States.
“My dad made much better money coming over here and he wanted to save as much as he could to bring us to the United States. That happened around 1980 when I was eight,” recalls Delao.
Coming into Texas the family immediately began applying for their green cards. He says back then it was easier, but it did cost quite a bit. When they came it also was a lifetime card with no time limit. Now it is renewable very 10 years.
The United States lawful permanent residency informally called a green card is the immigration status of a person authorized to live and work in America permanently. A person with a green card can apply for citizenship or naturalization after five years of residency.
As a youngster Delao and his siblings were scared and nervous of this new world.
“I didn’t know what to expect because I had never been here. I also spoke no English. The kids just rattled off English so fast. It was hard and I couldn’t understand anything. My dad spoke English, but at home it was all Spanish. We had some classes where teachers taught English, they were nice and helpful,” explains Delao.
The family moved to a small town west of Vernon, Lazbuddie and while they moved often following the harvest and the crops, Lazbuddie became something of a home. His dad, along with his brothers worked in the fields hoeing cotton or picking corn, as he did when he got old enough.
Delao says they all went to school because their parents wanted them to get an education so they would not be in their same position in the future.
“Their goal was to make a better life for us, they didn’t want us to be raised in Mexico where we might get into a gang or drugs. There were much better opportunities here. Juarez is really dangerous now with all the cartels,” said Delao.
Growing up in a migrant family can be tough, moving so often as they left a school just as they were settling in and making friends. His oldest daughter Monica says the boys must have made an impression because when they visited Lazbuddie a few years ago people remembered them kindly.
Delao came to Montague County in a roundabout way. His brother, Coco, was working at Leal’s Restaurant in Muleshoe as a cook when the owner decided to open a restaurant in Whitesboro. His brother moved to work at the new location.
As he traveled back and forth to visit family in West Texas he drove through Nocona on U.S. 82 and saw a building he thought might work for a restaurant. Coco and their older brother, Joe, had a bit of money saved so they opened Pepito’s in Nocona operating it for many years as a family business.
Going to school out in Lazbuddie, Ricky jumped at the chance to come to Nocona and work with his family and go to school. Coco sent him a bus ticket and he soon became a Nocona Indian graduating from high school there in 1992.
Delao married his high school sweetheart, Melissa, and their family grew shortly afterward with the arrival of Monica, now age 26, followed by Lexis, 20 and Colby, 16. The couple worked at the Nocona restaurant after graduation.
A few years later the family decided to open a Bowie restaurant around 1993. A year later Ricky and Melissa came over to Bowie to run it and they stayed until 2006 when it was closed.
Ricky went into the oil field to work. He and Melissa divorced about 10 years ago, but still maintain a strong relationship as they raise their children.
Throughout his time in Texas, Delao has legally worked with a U.S. green card. He has a valid social security number and is quick to say he pays his taxes each year just like everyone else.
Monica says she was very surprised at many of the social media comments they received when she wrote about her dad attaining his citizenship.
“When I posted about the ceremony a lot of people thought he may be here illegally, while others don’t understand what a green card means. Just because you are not a citizens does not mean you are here illegally. Some asked if we were scared? Why would we be,” asked Monica.
This proud daughter says while she was excited when he told her he was going for citizenship, it dawned on her she has never really wondered why he hasn’t done it before now.
“I think I forget he is not a citizen because we’ve always been here; it’s home. I think it took him a while because he got caught up in life and family, and he just didn’t get around to doing it. You have to make time to do it,” she adds.
The naturalization process is lengthy taking more than a year a half. He filled out an application online and paid his $725 fee. This compares to the $554 for a green card.
It takes about two months as they get your fingerprints and run a background check, along with conducting an interview. An applicant also must take a citizenship test that focuses on history and government. Delao says the initial packet has all the details of the process.
There are 100 questions on the test. You are asked 10, but you don’t know which 10. Out of those 10 you must get at least six correct to pass. When you get six correct you are done.
His kids began quizzing him regularly on all the questions. The applicant also is asked to write a sentence and read a sentence in English and asked a barrage of other personal questions all in English. All this is done during a second interview afterwhich you learn if you passed.
Excited phone calls to family shared the news. Delao’s parents, who reside at Earth, TX, were happy to see him become the first of their children to be a U.S. citizen.
At the the naturalization ceremony there were more than a dozen countries represented.
“The people were so nice and they treated you all the same. It was so exciting. When you raise your hand for the oath, it was just so neat. It was everything I expected and more. I felt so proud,” said Delao.
His brother Joe has begun the process and Ricky anticipates the others may follow.
New rights
When you become a citizen you receive certain rights, duties and benefits. Some of the rights include the freedom to reside and work here; to enter and leave the United States, voting, run for public office and apply for federal employment.
Delao looks forward to easier times traveling whether it be to Mexico or a vacation with his kids. He explains coming back into the country usually involves a hassle as his green card is examined by officers.
Officers may question why he hasn’t become a citizen yet and sometimes just give him a hard time because they don’t have to let you in if they don’t want to said Delao.
Returning home from a recent trip to Costa Rico was something of a nightmare as he and his younger daughter were separated as he was grilled about his green card. She got scared and he barely made the flight calling. As he obtains his first U.S. passport he hopes that problem is alleviated.
The new citizen is most excited about being able to vote.
“I always wanted to vote because I want to have a voice, that’s important to me, letting them know how I feel. I want to have part in something I never could. That is the first thing on my mind,” said Delao.
With all the controversy over immigration policy, Delao says some of the policies are fair and some are not. He knows several who are trying to come to the states just like his family did years ago and while it takes a while the process can be costly and complex, it can be done. He questions why some of those wanting to come into the country have it easier with the red tape.
“There are some trying to get away from violence in their country and they come here and get their papers for almost nothing. Why should I have to pay all that money and go through the long process and they don’t. It’s not all fair,” said Delao.
As the newest American citizen in Bowie Delao grins ear to ear when he looks at his certificate of naturalization. Next up is registering to vote so he can be ready for November and then a passport.
Each year the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service welcomes approximately 680,000 citizens during naturalization ceremonies across the United States and around the world.
In fiscal 2013 the top countries of origin for naturalization in order are: Mexico, India, the Phillippines, Domican Republic and China. Texas ranks fourth in the states were the majority of naturalized citizens reside.(Photo: Contributed)

Thirty-eight years after he arrived in the United States as an eight-year-old boy, Ricky Delao held up his right hand and gave the “Oath of Allegiance” to the United States of America.

He gave up his long-held green card and became a naturalized American citizen excited to enjoy all the rights and benefits that come with that designation.

Delao, 46, of Bowie, celebrated this landmark day with his children – Monica, Lexis and Colby – who were visibly proud of their dad. He joined 42 other immigrants on July 23 in a naturalization ceremony in Irving.

When asked why it took him so long to seek out citizenship, Delao did not hesitate to say he should have done it a long time ago, but he decided more than a year ago it was finally time.

“I have been here a lot of years, and I should have done it before because it has so many opportunities that come with it, such as voting,” said Delao.

Coming to a new country

Delao was born in Juarez, Mexico just across the border from El Paso.

His father traveled into the U.S. every day on a work visa to provide for his family returning home to Mexico each night.

His mother was a stay at home mom who with her husband would raise six children, all boys. Two of those boys were born in the United States.

“My dad made much better money coming over here, and he wanted to save as much as he could to bring us to the United States," Delao said. "That happened around 1980 when I was 8."

Coming into Texas the family immediately began applying for their green cards. He said back then it was easier, but it did cost quite a bit. When they came it also was a lifetime card with no time limit. Now, it is renewable every 10 years.

The United States lawful permanent residency, informally called a green card, is the immigration status of a person authorized to live and work in America permanently.

A person with a green card can apply for citizenship or naturalization after five years of residency.

Ricky Delao is shown with his children after the naturalization ceremony. Left to right: Lexis, Ricky, Monica and Colby.(Photo: Contributed)

As a youngster, Delao and his siblings were scared and nervous of this new world.

“I didn’t know what to expect because I had never been here," he said. "I also spoke no English. The kids just rattled off English so fast. It was hard and I couldn’t understand anything.

"My dad spoke English, but at home it was all Spanish. We had some classes where teachers taught English, they were nice and helpful."

The family moved to a small town west of Vernon, Lazbuddie, and, while they moved often following the harvest and the crops, Lazbuddie became something of a home.

His dad, along with his brothers, worked in the fields hoeing cotton or picking corn, as he did when he got old enough.

Delao said they all went to school because their parents wanted them to get an education, so they would not be in their same position in the future.

“Their goal was to make a better life for us," he said. "They didn’t want us to be raised in Mexico where we might get into a gang or drugs. There were much better opportunities here. Juarez is really dangerous now with all the cartels."

Growing up in a migrant family can be tough, moving so often as they left a school just as they were settling in and making friends.

His oldest daughter Monica said the boys must have made an impression because, when they visited Lazbuddie a few years ago, people remembered them kindly.

With his green card, Ricky Delao worked, paid his taxes

Delao came to Montague County in a roundabout way. His brother, Coco, was working at Leal’s Restaurant in Muleshoe as a cook when the owner decided to open a restaurant in Whitesboro. His brother moved to work at the new location.

As he traveled back and forth to visit family in West Texas, he drove through Nocona on U.S. Highway 82 and saw a building he thought might work for a restaurant.

Coco and their older brother, Joe, had a bit of money saved, so they opened Pepito’s in Nocona, operating it for many years as a family business.

Going to school out in Lazbuddie, Ricky jumped at the chance to come to Nocona and work with his family and go to school.

Coco sent him a bus ticket and he soon became a Nocona Indian, graduating from high school there in 1992.

Ricky Delao married his high school sweetheart, Melissa, and their family grew shortly afterward with the arrival of Monica, now age 26, followed by Lexis, 20, and Colby, 16.

The couple worked at the Nocona restaurant after graduation.

A few years later, Delao's family decided to open a Bowie restaurant around 1993. A year later, Ricky and Melissa came over to Bowie to run it, and they stayed until 2006 when it was closed.

Ricky went into the oil field to work. He and Melissa divorced about 10 years ago, but still maintain a strong relationship as they raise their children.

Throughout his time in Texas, Delao has legally worked with a U.S. green card. He has a valid social security number and is quick to say he pays his taxes each year just like everyone else.

Social media reaction to citizenship surprises family

Monica says she was very surprised at many of the social media comments they received when she wrote about her dad attaining his citizenship.

“When I posted about the ceremony a lot of people thought he may be here illegally, while others don’t understand what a green card means," Monica said.

"Just because you are not a citizens does not mean you are here illegally. Some asked if we were scared? Why would we be?"

The proud daughter said while she was excited when he told her he was going for citizenship, it dawned on her she has never really wondered why he hasn’t done it before now.

“I think I forget he is not a citizen because we’ve always been here; it’s home," she said. "I think it took him a while because he got caught up in life and family, and he just didn’t get around to doing it. You have to make time to do it."

The naturalization process is lengthy taking more than 18 months. He filled out an application online and paid his $725 fee – compared to the $554 for a green card.

It takes about two months as they get your fingerprints and run a background check, along with conducting an interview.

An applicant also must take a citizenship test that focuses on history and government. Delao said the initial packet has all the details of the process.

There are 100 questions on the test. You are asked 10, but you don’t know which 10. Out of those questions, you must get at least six correct to pass. When you get your six correct, you are done.

His kids began quizzing him regularly on all the questions.

The applicant also is asked to write a sentence and read a sentence in English and asked a barrage of other personal questions all in English. All this is done during a second interview, after which you learn if you passed.

Excited phone calls to family shared the news. Delao’s parents, who reside in Earth, Texas, were happy to see him become the first of their children to be a U.S. citizen.

At the the naturalization ceremony there were more than a dozen countries represented.

“The people were so nice and they treated you all the same. It was so exciting," Delao said. "When you raise your hand for the oath, it was just so neat. It was everything I expected and more. I felt so proud."